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Aldridge is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2014-15 season in which he'll be turning 30 that summer. The organization has made it clear that the plan is for No. 12 to remain a Trail Blazer. Being the realist that Aldridge considers himself, he never buys into being labeled “untouchable.” “Nobody is safe. Nobody,” Aldridge said adamantly. “You can never get too comfortable in this league. It's a business. I don't look at myself and think I can't be touched. I'm just being real. All I can do is go out there and play basketball to the best of my ability.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, LaMarcus Aldridge 

The Portland Trail Blazers power forward doesn't go out of his way seeking endorsement opportunities or try to portray himself as being something that he's not through the media. In fact, he couldn't care less about the media. He doesn't read the news clips stating he's soft, that he's not a leader, that he's not a franchise player. “I don't play the politics of the media game. You know that,” Aldridge said to CSNNW.com. “I don't read or listen to the media. I'm not going to waste my time doing that. People are going to say what they want to say and that's fine. “I came into the league trying to be one of the best power forwards to play. If I get endorsements with it, that's fine. I'm not about television time or commercials or things like that. I'm here to play basketball.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge 

Joe Freeman: According to #Blazers, an MRI on LaMarcus Aldridge's left ankle confirm he has a sprain. He's questionable for Thursday's game vs Denver. Twitter @BlazerFreeman

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Injuries 

Chris Haynes: LaMarcus Aldridge walking on crutches here. X-rays were negative. Left ankle sprain. Twitter @ChrisBHaynes

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Injuries 

Ben Golliver: LaMarcus Aldridge praised Luke Babbitt's post-dunk "swagger." Babbitt's response: "I don't know what you're talking about there." Twitter @blazersedge

Portland Trail Blazers, Luke Babbitt, LaMarcus Aldridge 

Stotts is sick and tired of the general masses crushing LaMarcus Aldridge. "He's been doing everything that's been asked of him at both ends of the floor," Stotts said of his All-Star power forward. "And he's done it willingly and effectively. And it just bothers me when people throw darts at him, when they are disparaging. He doesn't deserve it. I don't think the criticisms are valid." Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Terry Stotts 

And while it may appear to the naked eye that Aldridge has abandoned his low-post game, Stotts said the reality is that his franchise power forward is actually averaging "slightly less than one fewer postup every 36 minutes" compared to last season and roughly the same number of free throw attempts (4.9 to 5.0). "I think it's a legitimate observation," Stotts said, referring to Aldridge's dip in shooting percentage and rebounding. "But it's undue criticism that he's not being aggressive or he's being soft or that he's not pounding inside. He is doing all those things when he has opportunities." Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Terry Stotts 

However, Mullens disregarded Aldridge's presence and took off, extended his body and flushed the one-handed jam knocking Aldridge down to the floor in the process. There was no call and all Aldridge could do was smile as he got up. If you play long enough in this league, you're going to get posterized. Still, nobody likes to go through something like that. After the game, Aldridge said it should have been a charge, but he also acknowledges that Mullens got him. “It was a charge, but he dunked on me,” Aldridge said. “He dunked on me, but I think I had 25, 13, five, and three,” Aldridge said. “So, you want to dunk on somebody or you want that?” CSNNW.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, BJ Mullens 

That Mullens tomahawk over LaMarcus Aldridge in the first half was pretty sweet. “I kind of surprised myself,’’ Mullens said. “I really thought it was going to be a charge.’’ Actually, Aldridge was in full back-pedal, trying not to get hurt. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, BJ Mullens 

CSNNW.com asked Aldridge if it was starting to feel similar to how the season went haywire last year. He says it is not at that point. “This is a different team, younger team,” Aldridge said. “Guys are into it. We have a bunch of young guys trying to learn a lot of things. So, it's not even nowhere near that. That team had a whole bunch of vets and when you have a bunch of vets, that's going to happen. This team is young and we have a new offense, new identity and we're trying to figure it out.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge 

Joe Freeman: I asked Aldridge if he planned to talk to team or do anything else Thurs. to help end skid. His response: "Nah, time out for talking..." Twitter @BlazerFreeman

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge 

Chris Haynes: #Blazers F LaMarcus Aldridge re-aggravated his back in first quarter: "It's painful right now. Bu it's something I have to play through." Twitter @ChrisBHaynes

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Injuries 

For the second time in as many years, Aldridge and Love on Friday shared some choice words while puffing their chests at each other, and this time it was spicy enough for double fouls, then double technicals to be awarded. Oregonian

Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love 

According to Aldridge, the beef on Friday night started when Love twice pushed Aldridge in the back while the Blazers’ power forward tried to grab a defensive rebound. “One was on the small of my back and the other was up high. It wasn’t like boxout shove , it was a shove, like a disrespectful shove,’’ Aldridge said. It just got me heated.’’ Oregonian

Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love 

Love smirked when told what upset Aldridge. “I mean, he pushes in the back, too,’’ Love said. “I think everybody at the four and five position pushes in the back. You grab, you hold, you do whatever you can to get the upper hand. That’s just part of the game. It’s a big reason I am where I am. I reference to a guy like Jerry Sloan. He played so (freaking) hard they just stopped calling it. You just can’t call that all the time ...’’ And here’s the zinger .. “I’m the type of guy - I play physical. If that rubs you the wrong way, so be it.’’ Oregonian

Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love 

Honestly, it doesn’t mean anything more playing him,’’ Aldridge said. “I didn’t do anything different. I didn’t play any different. I don’t take it personal. I’m not worried about any of that. As long as my team wins, that’s all I care about ...’’ And here’s the zinger ... “We won tonight. He had a double-double, great numbers; but we won. So I’m fine.’’ Oregonian

Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love 

Surprisingly enough, despite coming into the league together, Aldridge and Roy were not and are not the best of friends off the court. “Everybody that you play with, you don’t have to be best friends with,” Aldridge said to CSNNW.com. “Things could always have been better between us, but this isn’t come build friendships for life, this is come and go to work and play basketball. That is what we did together. “I think that we maximized our time and got along for the team. We never beefed. Some people made beef up, but it was not really ever any big beef. People kind of made it happen. They (media) wanted us to be so close that they made it seem like we had beef because we weren’t overly close and they thought it was a negative thing and it wasn’t.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge 

I proceeded to ask Aldridge if he and Roy were better friends off the court, if that might have made cohesion better on the court. “Maybe for a point guard. For two scorers? No,” Aldridge said. “I think for a point guard, maybe it’s big. It might be good for a quarterback and his favorite receiver. Not necessarily for two scorers.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge 

Even though they don’t have the best relationship, Aldridge would have liked a congratulatory text or call from Roy, himself. “Yeah, he had my number, that’s true,” Aldridge said. “But you know what? Life is so much more. I’m not into this petty stuff, man. I got more important things I have to worry about like doing my job and doing what I do. I can’t let that stuff get to me.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge 

After Damian Lillard iced the Blazers’ 102-94 victory over the Bulls with a dunk with 1.9 seconds left, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson bee-lined toward the rookie point guard at center court to express their displeasure. LaMarcus Aldridge and other Blazers prevented a post-game incident by intervening, but Lillard’s late-game display caused quite a commotion Sunday night at the Rose Garden. “I just told him he can’t do that,” Gibson said. “He didn’t say anything. He was making a scene out of nothing. He made the layup and me and Joakim just addressed it, like, ‘In the future, you have to be smarter. A lot of teams aren’t going to let you do that.’" Oregonian

Chicago Bulls, Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Damian Lillard